Phone thief attacked Good Samaritan and woman police officer

A DRUNKEN thug ‘rugby tackled’ a female police officer after punching a Good Samaritan who was trying to stop him from getting away with a woman’s mobile phone.

Serene Fall, 24, had asked a woman for a cigarette at about 4.30am on Major Street in the city centre.

She gave him a cigarette and Fall then hugged her.

After he had walked off, the woman realised that Fall had stolen her phone.

She started to run after Fall and, after seeing this, a male bystander also started to follow him.

After he caught up with Fall, the defendant told him: “Mate, it’s probably not even worth it, I am going to give it back to her.”

Fall punched him to the face, causing him to fall over.

Despite being attacked, the man got up started to chase him again.

By this time, in the early hours of December 29, police had become aware and a female officer arrived and drew her Taser.

Fall ran and ‘rugby-tackled’ her, causing her to fall back onto the ground. He was caught shortly afterwards.

Fall, a painter and decorator, is ‘disgusted’ and ‘ashamed’ at his actions, his lawyer Jane Miller told Manchester Crown Court heard.

She said Fall had consumed ‘large amounts’ of alcohol.

Fall, from Salford, pleaded guilty to theft, assault by beating and assaulting an emergency worker.

He ordered him to complete a 12-month community order, to include 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He had been remanded in custody since the incident.